Mineral Pigment Painting Basics Courses
10 lessons | 3 hours per lesson | total 30 instructional hours
Day 1｜Introduction to Materials & Basic Pigment Application
Overview of mineral pigment painting: features, differences from watercolor / Chinese ink painting
Tools: mineral pigments, animal glue, shell white, gold/silver leaf, brushes
Glue preparation: safety, ratios, and usage control
Day 2｜Surface Preparation: Ground Layer & Base Color
Creating the gofun / white clay ground
Techniques for applying an even base color
Day 3｜Linework Training: Steady Lines & Floral Sketching
Characteristics of mineral pigment linework
Yamato-e lines vs. Dunhuang-style lines
Floral structure and form
Day 4｜Layered Coloring (I): Light Wash & Soft Layers
Logic of layered coloring in mineral pigment
Thin wash technique & transparent layering
Day 5｜Layered Coloring (II): Heavy Layers & Granular Textures
Techniques for granular pigments
Creating mineral-textured surfaces with thicker application
Day 6｜Gold Leaf Techniques: Cutting, Dotting & Broken Gold
Three commonly used gold leaf techniques
How to highlight with gold mud
Gold leaf placement & composition balance
Day 7｜Artwork Refinement: Details, Light & Contrast
Order of detailing
Creating spatial depth and focal points
Color harmony and overall tone control
Day 8｜Artwork Completion & Critique Session
Final line adjustments, gold leaf touch-up, color corrections
Artwork protection & storage
Photography tips & framing recommendations
Day 9｜Second Artwork: Sketching & Base Color
Second practice piece:
✔ Small size (20cm × 20cm)
✔ Student may choose their own theme (flowers / objects / simple motifs)
✔ Focus techniques: linework, layering, granules
Simple composition for small artworks
Linework basics for petals, leaves, and small objects
Day 10｜Second Artwork: Quick Layering & Gold Highlights
Key points for coloring small artworks
How to build layers efficiently
Minimal gold leaf accents
Students Will Complete:
✔ One full mineral pigment floral artwork (30cm × 40cm)
✔ One small mineral pigment practice piece (20cm × 20cm)
Class Schedule
Friday class, 2pm – 5pm
Fees
Course Fee: RM2,100
Mineral Pigment Materials Kit: RM300
